E eckstein



E. E. ECKSTEIN Sept. 6, 1955 Re. 24,058 AUTOMATIC TONG EXTRACTING ANDRESETTING MECHANISM Original Filed Aug. 5, 1952 r V H. in?

4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. BY ERNESTE. fax 575w v k d-Z, Mwm) Sept. 6,1955 E. E. ECKSTEIN AUTOMATIC TONG EXTRACTING AND RESETTING MECHANISM 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Aug. 5, 1952 ERNEST .CKJ TEIN (IttornegSept. 6, 1955 E. E. ECKSTEIN AUTOMATIC TONG EXTRACTING AND RESETTINGMECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Aug. 5, 1952 Gttorneg I Sept.6, 195 E. E. ECKSTEIN AUTOMATIC TONG EXTRACTING AND RESETTING MECHANISM4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original F'il'ed Aug. 5, 1952 vuIlI n t I I I 1 lllllllII I I! r M (Ittcrnegs United States Patent Ofi ice Re. 24,058 ReissuedSept. 6, 1955 AUTOMATIC TONG EXTRACTING AND RESETTING MECHANISM ErnestE. Eckstein, Elgin, Oreg.

Original No. 2,656,212, dated October 20, 1953, Serial No. 302,707,August 5, 1952. Application for reissue January 4, 1954, Serial No.402,198

11 Claims. (Cl. 294110) Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in theoriginal patent but forms no part of this reissue specification; matterprinted in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

This invention relates to a tong operating mechanism for use inconnection with log handling equipment; the present application being acontinuation in part of my co-pending application filed under Serial No.280,886 now abandoned. More particularly, the invention has reference toan automatic tong control apparatus designed primarily for use inconnection with the cable and cable winding mechanism of any of thepresent day hoisting machines, or loaders, as employed for the handlingand more particularly for the cold decking of logs. It is not theintent, however, that the present invention shall be limited in its useto log handling operations but that it be understood to be applicablefor any other use not inconsistent with its structure and disclosed modeof operation.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a simple,effective, and automatically operating tong extracting and tongre-setting means for use in connection with a cable and cable windingdevices as employed for the lifting and loading of heavy objects bymeans of a pair of tongs; the present apparatus being operable to eifectthe extraction of the teeth of the tong jaws from the lifted objectafter it has been lowered and brought to rest on a support, and for thenresetting the tongs for self closing on the next object that is to belifted thereby.

More specifically stated, it is the primary object of this invention toprovide a mechanism for use in 'connection with a pair of tongs and aboom type hoist, or the like, for handling exceedingly heavy logs, andwhich mechanism, in its functional combinationwith the hoisting cableand tongs, serves as a connecting link between them. Furthermore, amechanism that includes therein a normally inactive tong releaseconnection that can be rendered operative for that purpose by a slackproducing manipulation of the hoisting cable, after the lifted log hasbeen lowered to a position of rest on 'a support.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a tong extractingand re-setting mechanism of the above stated character, that eliminatesthe usual requirement of an extra Workman for that purpose. Furthermore,an automatic tong extracting and re-setting mechanism that is powered byand controlled entirely through inanipulation of the hoisting cable,under control of the hoist operator.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention reside in thedetails of construction and combination of parts employed therein, intheir functional relationship and in the mode of use of the mechanism aswill hereinafter be described.

In accomplishing the above mentioned and other objects of the invention,I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferredforms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the automatic tong control mechanismembodied by the presentinvention as functionally associated with ahoisting cable and pair of log lifting tongs.

Fig. 1a is a similar view of the device as seen from the sides oppositethose shown in Fig. la.

Fig. 1b is a view showing manner of applying open tongs to a large log.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the present device, as seen from the latchmounting side.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 33 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail, taken on line 44 in Fig. 2, showing theslack pulling mechanism for the hoisting cable as mounted on one side ofthe housing.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 respectively, are elevations of different sides of thehousing and parts mounted thereon.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross-section, taken on line 8-8 in Fig. 7,particularly illustrating parts of the latch release mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a central, longitudinal sectional view, taken on line 99 inFig. 5, showing the normal relationship of parts associated with thehousing, while a log is being supported and conveyed by the tongs.

Figs. 10 and 11 are similar views illustrating, respectively,.sequential operations for the extraction and then the re-setting of thetongs.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of certain parts of the latch releasingmechanism.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

The mechanism of this invention, as used in combination with a pair oftongs and a hoisting cable, comprises a rather elongated, hollow ortubular housing 10. This housing, preferably is uniformly square inhorizontal cross-section and is open from end to end, as shown in Fig.9. In the present instance, the housing 10, as best shown in Fig. 8, ismade of two pieces of angle iron, 10a and 10b, having equal lengths andequal cross-sectional dimensions; these irons having their flangesdisposed edge to edge, and welded together along the engaged edges, asat 11, thus to form a rigid, tubular housing. However, a similarhousing, together with the flanges shown thereon and later described,might be cast in a single piece, or otherwise formed, without departingfrom the spirit of the invention. In a device now in use for handlinglarge logs, the housing 10 is thirty inches long and measures about fourinches across each side face. It provides an inside passage that isthree inches square in its horizontal dimensions.

For the purposes presently understood, the housing 10 is formed on eachof its four sides and extending the full length thereof, with spacedparallel flanges. For purpose of explanation, the four sides of thehousing have been designated in Fig. 8 by reference letters A, B, C andD, and the parallel flanges as formed on these four sides respectivelyhave been designated by reference letters aa, b-b,"cc and dd. Theseflanges serve as mounting means for various parts or mechanisms locatedbetween them and also they protect these mechanisms against damage inthe rough use to which the device is subjected.

Slidably contained in the tubular housing 10 are the overlapped innerend portions of two elongated metal bars designated respectively bynumerals 12 and 13. In the present device these bars are each thirty-sixinches long, one inch thick and three inches wide, and each has a partthereof freely movable endwise in the housing between definite limits.The bar 12 extends from the upper end of the housing 10 and the bar 13,likewise, extends from the lower end thereof. On adjacent side faces oftheir overlapped end portions, the bars.12 and 13, are equippedrespectively, with integral blocks or lugs 12x and 13);, that areadapted to engage one against the other, end to end, as shown in Figs. 9

and 11, thus to form a load lifting connection between the two bars.However, the two bars, under certain conditions as presently explained,can move endwise relative to each other and to housing 10, as indicatedby their showing in Figs. 9, and 11.

At its upper end, the bar 12 has a U-shaped loop forming member 15,welded or otherwise attached thereto and to this loop the outer end of ahoisting cable 16 is attached; it being understood that this cable isextended to the loop from the cable winding drum of a hoisting machine,or winch of any suitable kind that may be designed or used for thelifting and loading of logs. For example, the hoisting machine, notherein shown, may be a boom type loader of the character of that shownin U. S. Patent No. 2,327,015 issued to H. Carlson.

At its lower end, the bar 13 has a U-shaped loop 18 welded thereto.Applied through the loop 18 are clevises 19 and 19' and these pivotallyconnect the loop 18 wit the upper ends of a pair of tongs 20; thesetongs being of the kind normally used for log handling purposes and itsjaws are equipped with inturned pointed teeth 20' as herein shown. Thetongs are permitted, by reason of this means and manner of attachment tothe loop 18 to be opened and closed, yet will retain their transverserelationship to the housing 10 as seen in Fig. 1. Under weight of a log,the jaws of the tongs will tend to close together, thus to maintaintheir hold on a log to which they are applied. Usually the teeth embedthemselves in the log to substantial extent.

It will be understood further that, when the bars 12 and 13 are in suchposition that their inner end lugs 12x and 13x are abutted or hookedtogether, for example, as seen in Fig. 9, they serve as a connectinglinkage between cable 16 and tongs 20 through which the load sustainedby the cable can be lifted; a load, in the form of a log 28, is shown inFig. 1.

In the usual log handling operation where the hoisting cable is attacheddirectly to the tongs, it is a difficult and a dangerous task tomanually extract the points of the tongs from the log. The presentmechanism has been designed to make extraction easy and to eliminate theextra workman heretofore required for this job. The release mechanism iscontrolled entirely through the hoisting cable, and requires no extramanual help either for the extraction of the tongs or for theirresetting. Extracting of the tongs is effected through use of a lengthof chain 30, or flexible cable, that is attached at one end to an eyelet31 on one jaw of the tongs and is attached at its other end to thehousing 10.

In the present showing of Figs. 1 and 2, the upper end of the chain isattached to a cross pin 32 that extends between and is fixed in theflanges 3-3 on one side of the housing 10. A plurality of verticallyspaced holes 33 are formed along the flanges to provide for mounting thecross member 32 at the most practical location to provide a limitedamount of slack in the chain, when the parts are set as in Fig. 1.

The release of the tongs from a log through the mediacy of the hoistingcable 16 is made possible in the present instance by the provision ofmeans for temporarily establishing through the chain 30, the log liftingconnection normally existing through bars 12 and 13, and temporarilyproviding a limited slack, or lost-motion in the connection with thetongs as provided through the bars 12 and 13. This transfer ofconnection to chain 30 is made possible by use of a latch mechanism toestablish a direct connection between bar 12 and housing 10 after thelost motion has been provided in the connection through bars 12 and 13.This mechanism, now described with references to the showing of parts inFigs. 1, 9, 10 and 11 is as follows:

Welded or otherwise fixed to the upper end portion of the bar 12 throughthe mediacy of a spacer block 38, is a flat bar which is substantiallycoextensive with bar 12 and which extends therealong, but passingoutside of the housing 10 between the flanges a--a thereof, as noted inFigs. 8, 9, 10 and 11. Welded to and directly across the outer face ofbar 40, near its medial point, is a lug or stop 41. Located between theflanges, a-a, and pivotally mounted on a horizontal cross pin 42,extended therethrough, is a down wardly and inwardly directed latch 44of bar form, the lower end of which is adapted, upon the bar 12 beingfully telescoped into the housing, and the bar 4-0 being moveddownwardly accordingly, to be engaged against the top of the stop 41thus to provide a lifting connection between the bar 12 and housing 10.

The latch 44 is at all times yieldingly urged toward latched or holdingposition by an inverted U-shaped spring 50, disposed under compressionbetween the latch and a cross-plate 51 that extends between and iswelded to the flanges aa; the spring being held in place by a bolt 52that is fixed in the latch and extends outwardly therefrom, and throughopenings, in the legs of the U-shaped spring and freely through anopening 51 in the plate 51, as seen in Fig. 9.

As a means for etfecting the unseating of the latch 44 from holdingcontact with the stop 41 to release this connection, I have mounted alatch release lever on a pivot pin 61 that is extended horizontallybetween paired, outwardly projecting ears 6262 applied to the lower endof the latch.

The lower end portion of the lever 60 has a longitudinally curved camsurface 60' extended substantially below the lower end of the latch. Theupper end portion of the lever 60 extends upwardly along the latch andis adapted to be engaged and outwardly actuated by a release mechanismwhich will presently be described in connection with the showing inFigs. 10 and 11.

Also, for a purpose presently apparent, a wedge shaped block 63 is fixedto the outer face of bar 40 immediately below the stop or lug 41. Thisis secured for limited adjustment up or down along bar 40 by means of asecuring bolt 63, thus to make the release lever 60 more or lesssensitive.

Assuming the parts of the device to be so constructed and assembled, andwith the understanding that the tongs 20 have been properly applied to alog as in Fig. 1 and that the log has been carried by the cable 16, toan unloading position, and has there been lowered to a position of reston the cold deck, but that the parts of the present device are still inthe normal load carrying relationship shown in Fig. 9 without any slackas yet having been permitted in cable 16, the procedure to automaticallyefiect the extraction or release of the tongs from the log, is asfollows:

First, the operator of the hoisting engine causes about two feet ofslack to be paid out in cable 16. After the first few inches of slackhave been produced in the cable, the bar 13 comes to rest by reason ofits connection at the lower end with the tongs. The upper end of bar 13is at this time in contact with the upper end block 24 of the housing 10and operates as a support for the housing. Then, as the additional slackis produced in the cable, the bar 12 moves downwardly into the housing10 and the latch release bar 40, fixed thereto moved downwardlyaccordingly, ultimately causing the lug 41 thereon to pass beneath andbeyond the lower end of the latch lever 44, whereupon the spring 50causes the latch 44 to snap into holding contact with the top side ofthe stop, as seen in Fig. 10. It is here to be noted that a lost motionconnection has been established between bars 12 and 13 by reason oftheir lugs 12x and 13x being spaced apart to full extent.

It is necessary to insure proper operation of the present mechanism,that the housing 10 be maintained substantially in an upright positionwhile this slack is being produced in the hoisting line. This isaccomplished by means of a slack take-up mechanism that is shown best inFigs. 4 and 6. This mechanism comprises a coiled spring 65 that isdisposed lengthwise of and between the housing flanges b-b and isattached at its lower end to an-ear 66 that is welded to the lower endof housing 10. At its upper end, the spring connects with a pulley block67 containing a pulley wheel 67'. A cable 68, dead ended in a lug orblock 69 fixed to a flange b above the pulley block level, is extendeddownwardly from the lug, passed about wheel 67, then extended downwardlyand wound, as shown in Fig. 4, on a sleeve 70x fixed on a horizontalcross shaft 70 that extends between and is revolubly supported by theflanges b-b. A conical drum 71 also is fixed on the cross shaft 70, anda cable 68x has an end attached to the larger end of this drum and itsother end dead-ended in a block 72 that is welded to the upper endportion of bar 12. In this present instance the cable 68x is acontinuation of cable 68 and both are dead ended in the flange at thelarger end of drum 71. Thus the spring 65, at all times effects theapplication of a downward pulling force on bar 12. However, this forceis not sull'lcient to effect any upward lifting of the housing relativeto bar 12.

It is shown in Figs. 4 and 6 that the arrangement of the conical drum onthe shaft 70, and the attachment of cable 68 to the shaft 70 and cable68x to drum is such that when the spring 65 is permitted to contract, itoperates through cable 68 to rotate the shaft 70 and drum in suchdirection that the cable 68x will be wound onto the conical drum fromits larger toward its smaller end. This is to compensate for thedecrease in power orpull of the spring as it gets shorter. This springpowered mechanism operates to pull the bar 12 downwardly thus to take inthe slack as produced in the load lifting cable 16 after the bar 13 hasbeen lowered into position of support by tongs or log, thus to maintainthe housing 10 in that substantially upright position which is necessaryfor the engaging of the latch 44 with stop 41. It is to be explained,however, that the tension of the spring is not sufficient to lift thehousing 10 relative to bar 12 except under the conditions abovementioned.

With the engagement of the latch 44 with the bar stop 41, a directlifting connection is established between the bar 40 and the housing 10,and about twelve inches of slack has been produced in the connectionthat had previously existed by reason of the engagement of the blocks12x and 13x on bars 12 and 13. The parts then are in position seen inFig. 10.

With the parts in position of Fig. 10, the operator then causes thehoisting cable 16 to be wound in and the housing 10 to be lifted throughthe holding connection effected by latch 44 and bar 40.

With the upward lifting of housing 10, the tong release chain becomestaut and before the lug 12x on bar 12 has moved upward into contact withlug 13, pulls the jaw of the tong, to which it is attached, free of thelog. This action ultimately results in full release of the other jaw ofthe tongs from the log and the tongs will swing free.

It will here be mentioned that although not herein shown, it may bedesirable and practical for some operations that release chains 30 beapplied to both jaws of the tongs. If so, the connection of the otherjaw would be made in the same manner as already described.

When the tongs have been cleared from one log, they may be carried inthe open position to another, ready for application thereto, and therereset for their automatic application to the log. The means foreffecting the release or resetting of the tongs for such application toa log will now be described.

In Figs. 9 and 11 it is best shown that a cross-shaft 75 extendshorizontally through the flanges c-c near the upper end of housing 10.Pivoted on this shaft, between the flanges, is a pair of parallel,downwardly directed levers 76-76, rigidly joined across their upper endsby a cross plate 77. Extended rotatably through the lower ends of thelevers 76-76 is a cross shaft 78. Opposite end portions of this shaftextend through horizontal slots 79-79 in the flanges o-c to the outsidesof the flanges as in Fig. 8, and welded to these opposite end portionsare lever arms 80-80 that extend substantially horizontally throughopenings in flanges b-b and d-d, to the opposite side of housing 10where they are joined by a horizontal cross rod 81 which is the actuatorfor the latch release lever 60. This cross rod extends freely throughopeningsin the flanges aa as observed in Fig. 8.

Fixed to the cross plate 77 is an upwardly and outwardly directed arm84, and attached to the outer end of this'is the lower end of a coiledspring 85; the spring is attached under tension to an ear 87 on theupper end of housing 10, and thus it operates at all times to urge thelower ends of lever arms 76-76 and the cross rod 78 mounted thereby, tothe outward position, in which they are shown in Fig. 11.

Welded rigidly to the cross shaft 78, medially of its ends, is anupwardly extending angular, cam lever 90. This is formed with aninwardly directed upper end portion 90' that, extends into a verticalslot 91 in the adjacent side wall of the housing for contact with andactuation by the bar 13, as best understood by reference to Figs. 9 and11.

Pivoted on the cross shaft 78 at opposite sides of the cam lever 90 arepaired, downwardly extending links 92-92 which at their lower ends areconnected by means of a horizontal pivot pin 93 with the outer end of acam lever 94. This lever is pivotally mounted, between its ends, on across pin 95 extended between spaced ears 96-96 on the adjacent housingwall. The upper end portion'of lever 94 extends inwardly through a slot97 in the adjacent side wall of the housing 10 for contact with andactuation by the bar 13.

As will be understood by reference to Figs. 9 and 11, the parts 76-76and 92-92, as pivotally joined by the cross shaft 78, form a togglelinkage that, under the influence of cam lever 94 and spring 85 will becaused to break outwardly and inwardly between the different positionsshown in these views, and it is this action that causes the engaging andactuation of the latch release lever 60 by the cross rod 81.

It is to be'understood that with the lifting of the housing 10 by cable16 after the latch bar 44 has been engaged with lug 41 on bar 40, thebar 13 drops down in housing 10 from position of Fig. 10 to the positionshown in Fig. 11. With this movement of bar 13, it disengages the innerend of the then upwardlly directed lever 94 and the toggle linkage ispermitted to be actuated by spring 85 to its outward position as in Fig.11. This causes the levers 80-80 to pull the cross rod 81 from above tothe inside of the upper end of the lever 60, where it drops down as inFig. 11, to the level of the notch 60x in the lever; this drop beingpermitted by reason of the end portion 90' of cam lever 90 then being inthe clear of the bar 13.

After the tongs have been disengaged from a log, they are carried insuspension by the chain 30 in a laterally opening position, ready forapplication to another log. The bars 12 and 13, the latch 44 and thelatch releasing devices including the toggle linkage are in thepositions relative to each other shown in full lines in Fig. 11. Theautomatic release of the mechanism for application of the tongs, and theresetting of parts is as follows:

With the open tongs lowered to and properly disposed relative to the logthat is to be picked up, for example as in Fig. lb, or directly over thelog if it is small, the hoist operator carefully pays out the cable 16,causing the housing 10 to be lowered in a manner to place the laterallyopening tongs in gripping position. After the tooth of the upper jaw hascaught in the log, the bar 13, as supported by the clevises 19-19, comesto rest. Then, a continual lowering of the housing 10, as stillsupported by the cable through the latch mechanism, causes it to movedownwardly along bar 13. With the initial downward travel of housing 10relative to bar 13, the inner end portion of cam lever 94, which at thistime is extending inwardly through slot 97, will be contacted by theupper end of bar 13 and thereby actuated upwardly and outwardly, therebypulling downwardly on the toggle linkage and causing it to straightenout, as from its full line position of Fig. 11 to the dotted lineposition. In this action of the toggle linkage, the lever arms 80-80 areshifted to the left, in reference to showing in Fig. 11, to cause crossrod 81 to push the upper end of lever 60 outwardly and thereby effectdisplacement of the lower end of latch 44 from stop 41. The latch willthen be momentarily retained in released position by reason of the crossrod 81 remaining seated in notch 60x of the lever.

With release of latch 44, from stop 41, the housing 10 drops freelydownward to its full extent relative to the bars 12 and 13 and thiscauses the upper end portion of cam lever 90, then projecting throughslot 91, to be engaged with the upper end portion of the relativelystationary bar 13, to rotate shaft 18 and swing the lever arms 80-80upwardly, thus to dispose the cross rod 81 above and in the clear oflever 60; the latch parts then assuming the normal position of Fig. 9.Then, the operator winds in the cable 16 and lifts the housing 10through the mediacy of the inter-engaged lugs 12x and 13x of the bars 12and 13. The tongs will be lifted by bar 13 and they they willautomatically close on the log to which they have been applied.

If it is desired, a tag line, as at 100 in Fig. 1, can be attached tothe housing to control its position and prevent its being rotated underinfluence of the hoisting cable 16 and its tendency to rotate underload.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination, a hoisting cable, a pair of load lifting tongs, ahousing, a bar contained vertically therein and connected at its upperend to the cable, another bar contained vertically in the housing andhaving a load lifting connection at its lower end with the tongs; saidbars being independently movable endwise in the housing and relative toeach other between an extended and a retracted relationship, and saidhousing having limited movement along the bars, means associated withthe bars for effecting a load lifting connection between them when afully extended relative to each other and providing slack in the saidload lifting connection when they are not in fully extendedrelationship, a tie member connecting the housing with a jaw of thetongs for its extraction from a load, and latch means operable to effecta load lifting connection between the first mentioned bar and saidhousing when the said bars are in a slack producing relationship,through which pull of the hoisting cable can be applied to said jaw ofthe tongs for its extraction.

2. In combination, a pair of load lifting tongs, a hoisting cable, ahousing, a pair of bars mounted in the housing for endwise movementtherein relative to each other and for telescopic movement into and fromthe housing independently of each other; the first of said bars havingits upper end portion extended upwardly from the housing and connectedto the hoisting cable, the second of said bars having its lower endportion extended downwardly from the housing and having a connectionwith the tongs, and said bars having a load supporting connectionbetween them when fully extended relative to each other, a latch stop onthe upper bar, a latch lever mounted on the housing and operable toengage the latch stop to lock the upper bar in a position fullytelescoped in the housing, providing slack in the load liftingconnection, and a tie member joining the housing and one jaw of thetongs for the extraction of that jaw from an engaged load by pull of thehoisting cable applied through the said tie member and the upper bar andhousing as thus latched together. a

3. A combination as recited in claim 2 including a latch releasemechanism operable through the mediacy of the second of said bars by thetelescoping of said bar into the housing.

4. In combination, a pair of load lifting tongs, a hoisting cable, ahousing, a pair of parallel bars overlapped one with the other in saidhousing and telescopically movable into and from the same; the first ofsaid bars having its upper end portion extended upwardly from thehousing and connected to the said hoisting cable; the second of saidbars having its lower end portion extended downwardly from the housingand having a load supporting connection with the tongs, lugs on theinner ends of the bars adapted to engage one with the other to provide aload supporting connection between the bars when they are fully extendedrelative to each other, and disengag'eable from each other to provideslack in the connection between cable and tongs when the bars are notfully extended relative to each other, said housing having limitedmovement along the bars when they are fully extended relative to eachother, a latch stop on the first bar and a latch lever on the housingoperable to engage the stop when the said first bar is substantiallytelescoped within the housing, to lock the housing to the bar, and achain connecting the housing and a jaw of the tongs, through which anextracting pull can be applied by the cable to the jaw through the saidfirst bar and housing as thus latched together and while there is aslack condition in the bar connection.

5. A combination as recited in claim 4 including a latch leverdisengaging mechanism mounted on the housing, and operable by the secondbar when moved from a position extended from the housing to a positiontelescoped therein.

6. Apparatus as recited in claim 4 including a spring attached undertension to the cable and housing and operable to take up slack asproduced in the hoisting cable while the housing is supported throughthe mediacy of the second bar, and wherein the said chain is of a lengththat, with the tong to which it is attached secured in a load, it willretain the said housing in its lowered position on the extended bars.

7. In combination, a pair of load lifting tongs, a hoisting cable, atubular housing, a pair of parallel bars that are overlapped one withthe other in said housing and independently telescopically movabletherein; the first of said bars having its upper end portion extendedfrom the housing and joined with said hoisting cable, the second of saidbars having a load lifting connection at its lower end with the tongs,stops on the inner ends of the bars adapted to be engaged to provide aload supporting connection between the bars when they are fully extendedrelative to each other and disengageable from each other to provideslack in the load lifting connection, said housing having limited up anddown movement along the bars, when they are extended relative to eachother and no movement when both are fully telescoped thereinto, a latchbar fixed to the upper end of the first bar and extended downwardlyalong the housing, a stop on said latch bar, a latch lever pivoted onthe housing, yieldable means urging the latch lever against the bar tourge it to position to engage with the said stop upon the completetelescoping of the first bar into the housing, a chain joining thehousing and one jaw of the tong for the extraction of the jaw from aload, and a spring attached under tension to the housing and first barto draw slack in the bar connection when the cable is paid out for alatch setting operation and the housing is supported through the saidsecond bar.

8. A combination as recited in claim 7 including a latch release leverthat is mounted pivotally between its ends on the movable end of thesaid latch lever; said release lever having one end portion thereofextended beyond the end of the latch lever to engage a fulcrum member,and there being other lever mechanism mounted on the housing andoperable against the other end of the said release lever for thedisengaging of the latch lever from the stop; said other lever mechanismbeing disposed for actuation by the said second bar in its upward travelin the housing.

9. In combination, a pair of load lifting tongs, a hoisting cable, ahousing, a pair of parallel bars overlapped one with the other in saidhousing and independently telescopically movable therein; the first ofsaid bars having its upper end portion extended upwardly from thehousing and connected to the said hoisting cable; the second of saidbars having its lower end portion extended downwardly from the housingand having a load supporting connection with the tongs, lugs on theinner ends of the bars adapted to engage one with the other to provide aload supporting connection between the bars when fully extended relativeto each other, and disengageable from each other to provide slack in theconnection between cable and tongs when the bars are not fully extendedrelative to each other, said housing having limited movement on the barswhen fully extended relative to each other, and a latch mechanismassociated with the housing and the first of said bars for locking thefirst bar fully telescoped in the housing while permitting the secondbar to have movement into and from the housing, and a latch disengagingmechanism on the housing operable from a retracted to an extendedposition to disengage the latch under influence of the said second barincident to its being lifted from an extended position to a positiontelescoped within the housing.

10. A combination as in claim 9 including also, a spring actuated meansoperable under control of the said second bar to return the latchdisengaging mechanism to its retracted position.

11. In combination, a load lifting cable, a pair of tongs, a loadlifting connector interconnecting the cable and tongs, a flexible tongextracting connector secured at one end to one of the tongs and securedat its other end to the load lifting connector, said load liftingconnector comprising a housing and bar means projecting through thehousing, said bar means including first and second portions relativelymovable within said housing, latch means carried by the housing in fixedposition thereon, and means associated with the first portion of the barmeans adapted to engage with the latch means to hold said first portionof the bar means within the housing, and thereby determine the effect ofthe lifting connector so as to produce load lifting or tong extracting,and latch disengagement means carried by the housing and adapted to beengaged by the second portion of said bar means as the lifting connectoris engaged with a log to cause relative movement between said housingand said second portion of the bar means and engage said second portionof the bar means with the latch disengaging means to automaticallyrelease the means associated with said first portion of the bar means.

References Cited in the file of this patent or the original patentUNITED STATES PATENTS 768,253 Watson Aug. 23, 1904 1,558,778 BenningtonOct. 27, 1925 1,733,236 Pearce Oct. 29, 1929 2,382,227 Hopkins et a1.Aug. 14, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 627,807 Great Britain Aug. 16, 1949

